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Chapter Text

"..."

Everything was quiet..my time in this place seemed like it was all a hallucination. Nothing made sense anymore, I was accused of being insane, being locked in this asylum. Everyone in the staff was unspeakably cruel, with the exception of Dr. Deern. He was the only real decent employee here in this hellhole. The only one who actually seemed to give a rats ass.

But for now, I was locked inside my prison of a room. Going over what happened in…hell, I don’t know…the past 36 hours? Why I was locked in this asylum in the first place. I could remember it like it was taking place all over again. My eyes burning and swelling from crying, my parents would be here comforting me. But it's too bad they were murdered, supposedly by me. But that wasn't right; not at all, just false accusations of a paranoid mind. I was turned in by my own sibling, little did they know what I saw in our house that gory night.

A nameless monster....cloaked in darkness with the skull of a horned beast. Leaving us with our pulverized mother and father, more tears slid down my face and onto my pillow,

'What have I done to deserve this? What does that thing want and why did it take my family away from me?' The sob that came out of my mouth was filled with sorrow and a little louder then I would have liked. I've had enough of being here, I had enough of being called crazy. I shut my eyes, just before drifting off, I thought,

'In the morning, I will escape Oswald Asylum.’

Chapter Text

I didn't get much sleep that night based on previous events. So I laid quietly on my rickety bed, waiting for the sun to rise and shine its rays in the room. I shifted in my bed, making it groan in disagreement. I cringed at the sound thinking it would wake the other kids, which has happened in the past. It's not a pleasant experience, especially when some of the kids have extremely violent tendencies. After another hour my eyelids started getting heavy, finally, maybe some rest will treat my night.

"Fran? Fran!! Nurse get a gurney stat! Don't let her take that Medicine again!"

"Y-yes Dr. Deern!" I heard a frantic nurses heel clacking on the linoleum and the squeaky wheels of a gurney shortly after that auditory episode. I could hear her getting closer to my room.

No, please...not another one..

I put my pillow over my head and prayed that the metal door wouldn't slam open and wake the others.

*BAM*

I jumped at the sudden bang, I knew it was coming. But I didn't expect it to be so loud, I wearily looked back and saw the nurse carefully placing a young girl, probably nine or ten on one of the beds. She wore a yellow sun dress with black and white stockings and her hair was a light brown, chin length to be precise. I had to admit she did lighten up the atmosphere in here. Her pastel clothes pulled me back from forgetting there were brighter things in life. That's a lot to take in from just a yellow dress, I know. The nurse looked to me and spoke with a frown on her lips,

"You're the oldest here, would you mind watching this girl for any strange behavior when she wakes up. We gave her a new medication to try and she didn't exactly take to it. Her names Fran, just make sure she doesn't get into any trouble. Please?" That was the nicest any nurse has has spoken to me before. I slowly nodded my head,

"Uh...yeah sure. I'll take care of her." She smiled and turned to walk out of the room. I looked at Fran, she was out cold so I didn't think I'd have to worry about that so much right now. Maybe I could still get some kind of sleep? I laid my head back down in my pillow and closed my eyes.

~~~

"Hey! Hey! Get up, please!" I heard a young voice pressurizing me to wake up while shaking my arm. I groaned and groggily opened my eyes. Barely, I could make out the figure of the little girl from earlier. What was her name? Fran? Yeah, I think that's it.."Oh good! You're up! Thanks for listening to me!"

"Oh...Uh you're welcome." I mumbled, not really sure what I was saying, since I felt half dead. I sat up in my creaky bed and looked wearily in her direction. "So...Uh...what did you wake me up for hun?" She narrowed her eyes at me.

"I...wanted someone to talk to.." she said, although it came out more like a question. I shot her a puzzled look.

"Ok? And what about the other kids here??" I questioned, gesturing my arm around the room for emphasis.

"Well...I would except there too far gone, sadly." I was pretty impressed by the way she spoke, it was very sophisticated for her age. I rose an eyebrow,

"So, what did you want to talk about?" She moved her hand in a "come here" motion and I obliged.

"An escape plan..." she whispered, my eyes widened and I pulled back.

"An esca-" She put her hand over my mouth hastily,

"Ssssshh!! We don't need the nurses hearing, silly!" I smirked at the name. She was pretty adorable, smart and polite too. I could only guess she needed my help. And I was more then happy to comply, I mean I wanted to get out of here too! Plus, it wouldn't look suspicious! I was in charge of keeping an eye on her anyway! Us walking around while on the down low looking for a way out probably would raise hardly any eyebrows...actually why was she even here? She seemed to be perfectly sane.

"Fran...if you don't mind me asking..why are you in here?" The chipper look on her face slowly faded to empty stare. "Um...well I lost my parents...after I found them in their room, I was so distraught and scared I ran into the woods with my cat Mr. Midnight. I can't remember what happened after that, but I lost my him and I want to get him back and find the one who killed my parents!" It felt like someone came in to the room, pulled my heart out of my chest, and punched it in the face. This poor girl! She is so young! She doesn't have anybody to go home to and she's stuck in the asylum! And to make thing a million times worse, she lost her kitty...I was tempted to give her a hug, but I didn't want to make her uncomfortable. So I gave her a sympathetic look and gave her my condolences for her parents.

"Your turn! Why are you in here?" I told her the story of my dark past with my family and I got the same looks from her that I probably made during her back story. After we exchange “pleasantries” and back grounds, I asked,

"So, what’s this escape plan you've got conjured up?" I asked her as I sat on my bed, patting it next to me. Signaling her to take a seat, she giddily hopped up making the bed bounce and smirked up at me.

"Before I start...what's your name??"

"_____, the nurse already told me yours Fran." I smiled at her, and she smiled back.

"Alrighty! Here's the plan..."

Chapter Text

"Alright, so about this plan..." I completely faced her with a serious expression, "you have my full and undivided attention, let me hear it." She brushed her hair out of her face and look around the room, scrutinizing the occupants. The only others that were in here was Philip, a boy brought in for nothing more than paranoia, and Gladys. She was one of the nurses I despised, a rotten old hag she was (not to mention that gun she hid in her desk, three guesses as to what that’s for). She was fully occupied with the paperwork on her desk, and Philip was disassociated. She leaned in and whispered,

"Ok, the nurse at the desk hid my pills I took before I came in here. I need those, my kitty came to me in my knock out dream and said those would help me escape and find him! Maybe they'll help you too!"

A blank look settled upon my features, I didn't want to but I nearly started giggling. I snapped myself out of it and decided to listen to more of what she had to say. I don't know what I was expecting to hear, I mean, I was in the nut house after all!

"Before you continue, would it be alright to ask you something?"

"But you just did!" She giggled. I rolled my eyes at her and chuckled,

"Charming, but honestly, how are these pills going to help you?" She crossed her arms and acquired a brainiac attitude,

"Well, when I took that first pill in Dr. Deernes office, I hallucinated so severely, they were so vivid and vulgar. I don't think I could explain it to you without fainting again. Unfortunately, I must take them again to see if maybe, what I see while on the pills is actually there now, and I just can't see it  without the pills! I think it's called duotine?"

"Uh. Ok um...That's alot to process... but I think we could try snatching those pills from her. Anything else?" She nodded,

"I spoke to Phillp before I woke you, he said the yellow door is the way out and that there's a code we have to find in the office to disable the alarm. Then we have to get to the drain pipe in the hedge maze! It'll lead us outside of the asylum walls." She finished her statements with a nod of the head and a proud smirk.

I thought about it, everything she said with the exception of the pills and her cat dream made sense. I noticed something, just behind Fran, the curtain on the wall was coming loose, just one pull of the hook and it'll fall. My lip curled in a mischievous smile and I thought of a way to distract the nurse.

"Fran, I think I have an idea..." Her eyes gleamed with interest.

"Do tell!" I guided her eyes toward the lose curtain hook,

"We can distract the nurse by breaking the curtain, you hold onto the hook so she'll have to leave the room and find something to fix it! Then we can search her desk for your medicine!" She jumped up from the bed,

"Brilliant! We're getting along great Dear ____! We're going to be the cleverest in the whole building!" I loved her enthusiasm.

Now...hopefully this plan will work...

~~~
S-u-c-c-e-s-s

That is how you spell success! The distraction worked perfectly! The nurse was gone and Fran had been reunited with her medicine, now to just find our way out of this damn room.

"The stupid door is locked, do you know where she keeps the key, Phillp?" Fran's inquiry was punctuated with a head tilt toward the young boy.

"..yes..but he doesn't want me to tell you.." he spoke monotonously as always.

"Who...?" I asked already regretting asking this question.

"...him." He pointed in the center of the room, the was the last thing I could recall before my body hit the ground with a loud thud.

~~~~

“…____...____....____!!!”

My eye snapped open as I shot up to a upright position, I instantly looked around for Fran. She sat by my side with her hand grasping my shoulder.

"Goodness! Are you alright?! Did you see the monster?! Please tell me you did! He scared you so bad you passed out, that’s what happened, right?" I rubbed my head, trying to soothe it from the impact on the linoleum, I noticed wetness on my cheeks and my eyes burned. I rubbed my face and nearly freaked out when I saw blood, wonderful I'm crying blood.

"Fran! Honey, slow down! What...what monster-" I paused,

"What did the monster look like?" I turned around and held her blue eyes with my gaze.

"Um, he has a goat skull, all black with white eyes. Please tell me you seen him ____!"

I had seen him before, when my parents were murdered...that was the thing I saw in my house. The last thing I saw before I again...went unconscious at my home and woke here. That was weeks ago...and now he's showing up again..what could he be after?

"Yes, Fran...I have seen him before..What exactly happened while I was out?"

"It truly was awful...that monster has absolutely no manners! He was giant, larger than I remembered him. He told me you and I would be a prisoners of the darkness if we escaped. That we would go mad!"

"Isn't that why we're here?" I mused outloud.

Don't be smart, my darling...

I reacted quite harshly when I heard this. I wouldn't have if it didn't come from inside my head. I keened and smacked my hand to my ear, shaking my head.

"Who was that?!" I cried out looking around the room.

"What's wrong?" Fran asked, then I got an idea,

"Fran, let me have one of those pills" she gave me a tentative look.

"Are you sure? ____, the things you're going to see will scar you, you'll be desensitized to every horrible thing you can think of!" I chortled and shook my head.

"Oh Fran, I have nothing left to lose." I held out my hand, waiting for the red capsule. She gave me a worried glance and hesitated. "The pill, Fran. Now."

She set it in my hand,

"Just...be careful." I looked down and the capsule in my palm. I closed my eyes, tossed it back into my mouth and swallowed it dry. I waited and waited...until I felt it coming. But that didn't make me ready...

Fran warned me and I didn't listen.

Chapter Text

Blood....

Blood just...everywhere.

I felt like I couldn't breathe, sure the murder scene of my parents definitely gave me some good old trauma. But now, it was really hammered in my head, blood stained every surface of the room, carcasses of dead animals scattered around in no order(not that they should be). Put there by god knows who...or what. I saw Fran standing just in front of me, she looked relatively normal with the exception that her blue eyes were taken over entirely by the sclera. Blood dripping from them, cascading neat little droplets down her colorless cheeks. I looked at phil, and I regretted that decision as well, he looked like a corpse. His hair matted and uneven on his head, cheeks sunken in, gums and teeth exposed, eyes not in their sockets. But some how, I could tell that he, and that unsightly, despicable creature of darkness hovering over him, was staring at me.

"Ah, you've partaken of the red supplement, how does it feel sweet one? Can you feel your head pounding from your sanity deteriorating?"

That damn voice again...

I only had to turn around to see him, or what I assumed was a him? That horrible monster, that all who are damned by taking that pill can see. At least I think that's how it works, I wasn't sure if phillp took that stupid shit yet.

"I think my sanity deteriorated long ago, but from my sibling(s) so you're late to the fiasco, Mr...uh goatman?"

He chuckled, "You're awfully charming for someone who's loved ones were brutally murdered. Not to metion the betrayal your sibling(s) cursed you with. How do you have the audacity to speak to royalty of the damned like this?"

"Oh! Royalty, huh? Prince or king? Awfully rude for a royal to not introduce themself!" I drawled as I pulled a half assed curtsy. I heard a small snarl come from the maw of the goat beast.

"Forgive me, but I haven't introduced myself properly. I am Remor, The Terrible Black, Prince of darkness, Son of Mother Mabuka." He spoke with venom and arrogance, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be impressed or horrified of him. Probably both.

"See now, I don't know what any of that is so it all means pretty much nothing to me."

"Oh my dear, give the events that will come into place time. You will understand what it all means and what the answers are, just as young Fran Bow will. You both are very special, crucial to countless beings, none of whom mean a thing to the creatures that I rule. You will realize that I will mean EVERYTHING to you in order for you to stay alive."

Alright, so maybe I was wrong to bitch around an otherworldly demon from God knows where. Any nerve I may have had immediately leaked out of me, I let my stern facial expression fall and the terror I should have been feeling from the beginning seep into my veins. I wanted to finally snap and scream all my rage out to this creature, about my parents, about my whole family, about me being stuck in this god damned mental asylum.

Most of all I wanted him so finish the job and let me be with my parents.

"Why...why did I have to be so important...to you?"

He purred, "Now, I see you understand I am to be feared." He glided soundlessly to me and used a black talon to trace my cheek, flicking away the tear that would have been. Just a bit more pressure and he could rip into my face, the discomfort I already felt from my surroundings and his close proximity amplified to unbearable amounts.

"The answers will come to you, darling. Be content that I have enough mercy to let you die with closure."

With that I began to feel light headed once again, just like after I took the pill.

~~~~~

“____! Please wake up! You're scaring me!" I shot up from my laying position, Fran looking ever so worried.

"Ugh...Don't worry, Fran. I'm ok, although I will say if I pass out one more time today I'm not getting back up." I grumbled getting to my feet, feeling more frustrated than ever that I let the goat shithead get to me.

"Did you see him, ____? You were whispering the whole time you were in the bloody world! That wretched place! The monster didn't hurt you did he? I will never forgive myself if he did! I'm the one who gave you the p-"

"Fran! Honey! I said I'm fine! Just a tiny head ache is all." I ran my fingers through her short, brown hair and smiled at her to sooth her. She appreciated the gesture and smiled back,

"Oh thank goodness!"

"Yes, And I did in fact talk to him. He is much more intimidating up close and that's all I'm gonna say just in case he's listening. He doesn't need his ego stroked anymore than it is."

"Ah, I see. What did you talk to him about?"

"I'll tell you later, Fran. We have to get the hell out of this room before the bitch nurse comes back!"

Frans eyes almost shot out of her head, "Oh dear! You're absolutely right! We gotta get out of here!"

After a bit more snooping and light hearted conversation to bright our moods, we found a knitting need and Frans old hair clip. She had the idea to make her own special little key with them, creative little thing, I'd give her that! Once she finished the craft, she tested it out on the door and with a couple false starts and some curses from us both. The door clicked and the lock popped open. I was thoroughly impressed! Before we left the room I smirked to myself and said under my breath.

"In your face, your highness.~"

Chapter Text

Freedom comes with some costs. You have to prepare for the best, but be aware of the worst. I wish someone would've told me that.

But I wouldn't have known how serious things were about to get with this boring job that Fran entrusted me with. She told me to stand watch as she figured out how to open the yellow door, our way to freedom. Though I was suddenly confronted by the old bitch nurse, I quickly thought up a quick explanation. Which she totally bought it, I told her that Fran was still a little discombobulated from her new medication and she needed me to help her get something to eat, considering she was asleep for such a long time. The nurse was a bit skeptical with how we got out, insisting she locked the door, but I countered that we couldn't have left if she did. She scrutinized me a bit with a stank eye before being swayed.

So I waited in the front hall, in front of the chain link fence door waiting for Fran to get the key from the office. I huffed and plopped down on the floor, as unsanitary as it was my feet were starting to hurt and my patience was wearing thin. I wish I could've been more help, but I could tell Fran knew more about what to do with that medicine than I. I don't know how, but whenever she would pass me in the hallway and update me with her progress. She would tell me how when she took that pill, she would have access to things that weren't there before almost like they existed on another plain. Like one big mind fuck puzzle. And fuck with my mind it did, because I swear everytime I blink I can catch just barely a glimpse of a figure. A very tall, dark, skinny figure that would disappear within seconds. There was also this odd gadget, a black cat stuffed animal on a wheel. Just...rollin' around. I tried not to think anything of it, my head was a traumatized hot mess after all. I suppose I AM just batshit insane.

I was brought out of my inner thoughts when a buzzer made me jump, I whipped around and noticed the red light beaming and the yellow door emit a small click noise.

"Ha! That outta do it!" I heard the familiar voice of fran pipe up from behind the front desk, I could just see her big blue eyes peaking at me from the bottom of the window frame. Ugh, so short and cute, what a sweetie. She trotted on out with her heeled boots clucking on the linoleum,

"Fran, this is a secret mission, your shoes are too loud." I teased. She playfully pouted and stomped,

"Well now, Dear ____, I can't go barefoot or I'll ruin my stockings, we could've gotten out quietly if you didn't open your yap and speak rubbish!" She stuck her tongue out at me. I rolled my eyes and opened the door.

With Fran behind me, we booked it down the stairs, though not getting very far. Because an unfamiliar and bellowing voice shouted at us from the top of the stairs.

"Hey! You little bitches, get back here!" I turned to look behind me and saw a man I could barely recognize as one of the security guards. He had stains covering most of his cloths, like something spilled onto him.

"You still gotta pay for what you did you little-" he paused his threats with a crack in his voice. I could just slightly hear a low rumbling, which was definitely getting louder. I knew Fran could hear it because she returned the exact look I was sending her way. We both glanced back at the man, and unfortunately, what we feared was coming had arrived. His eyes rolled back into his head and the bloody tears began to drip, down his face and onto his clothes. But what we didn't see coming was the nauseating sound of flesh and bones tearing, and like a rock, his head dropped down from the now leaking stalk of his neck to the bricked path. I wanted to scream bloody murder but I choked it down when I felt Fran grip onto my clothes, I had to be brave. For her.

There he was again, that goat bastard. Revealing himself after the headless body of the guard slid down the steps. He was enormously terrifying as he appeared from a portal in the doorway of the building, the ashy blue fog appeared once more and he spoke,

"Clever little ones, Do you think you can just leave?"

"Yes." I barked out. He chuckled.

"I am charmed by you, young one...you have...spirit. But, no matter."

He raised his hand and I heard Fran thump to the ground behind me. He locked his beady white eyes with mine and went to raise his hand,

"No!" I couldn't do anything. Everything went cold and black.

—————

Ugh...what is that noise. I sat up, my head pounding from the ear piercing wail of a siren, Oh shit, the asylum knows we're missing, we better get out of here. I shook Fran awake,

"Fran! Come on! We must leave now!"

"Ouchie...my brain...wait but whats that?" She pointed, I looked to were she pointed and...

That cat...I've seen that one wheeled cat before...

"That looks like my kitty Mr. Midnight! Come on! Lets follow it! Maybe it'll help us! It's going towards the maze we can catch it!"

Well, she got us out of the asylum. So I don't see why I can trust her on this. I nodded and we both jumped up and sprinted after the kitty bot. We both came to the entrance of the hedge maze. Fran took my hand and I smiled and gave it a squeeze. We took our first step and began to follow the squeaks and chirps of the cat gadget.

—————-

"Ugh, Oh my god! I did not think I would have to crawl through a sewage pipe. Ugh, everyday I wake up against my will."

"Look on the bright side, ____! We're free! Now I can finally find my kitty!" Fran exclaimed, her eyes tearing up with hope and excitement. It was contagious, and I was fine with catching it. I smiled back,

"Yeah...freedom. Also Fran...what did you do to the guard?" I asked, with a small smile.

"He was such a mean, nasty man! He wouldn't give me the key unless I gave him a yucky kiss. So I gave him what all bastards like him deserve! A nice, HOT cup of coffee." She sneered and I couldn't contain my laughter.

"Way to kill two birds with one stone. You got him to leave and be castrated. You're alright kiddo."

She laughed and sheepishly looked up at me,

"Um...so now that we're out of the asylum, I still have to find my cat...I'm not expecting you to still want to help. You could go home if you like,"

"That's not happening, we're in this together now Fran. Let's go find Mr. Midnight."

With euphoria, She ran into my arms and began to cry.

Chapter Text

"His favorite toy was this little ball of thread that came off my pajamas! My mom put some cat nip on it, and you should have seen the look in his eyes! I wonder what's in that stuff?"

"It's pretty much weed for kitties."

"Weed?"

'Oh yeah, she's like 10...'

"Oh...Nevermind i'll explain it to you another time."

Fran pouted, but then stopped dead in her tracks. I glaced at her confused,

"Is something wrong?"

I guess I should give some exposition. Once Fran and I made it out from the pipe, we came across a wooded area, with a huge pile of random shit. It was dark, cold, and there was an absolutely atrocious smell. I could not for the life of me tell where it was coming from. But anyway,

"Do you see that?" She said squinting her big blue eyes, trying to focus on what was in front of her.

"See what?" I turned my head in the direction she was facing. And...I couldn't see anything? I gave Fran a concerned face. "Fran, what do you see?"

"It looks like...a giant ant..and a beetle pig. Haha! The ant looks like an old man!"

What the fuck. I couldn't see what she was looking at, there was simply nothing there! I didn't want to tell Fran I couldn't see what she was talking about, in fear that she would get frightened so I had an idea, I held out my hand,

"Here, take my hand! Let's go see if he can give us some directions!" Fran took my hand cautiously,

"I'm a little scared, he is really big." I have her hand a reassuring squeeze. She smiled and began to lead me to where I assume this giant ant was. We walked maybe 10 feet in front of us until we suddenly stopped. Fran let go of my hand and timidly walked a few more steps forward.

"Oh wow! You really are a very big ant!"

...

"Oh!...excuse me, sir. Are you real?"

...

"Always? What do you mean by "Always?"

Am I missing something? Fran continued to converse with nothing, or at least what I could see was nothing. I didn't know what else to do, aside from awkwardly stand to witness this seemingly onesided exchange. Fran went onto explain how we escaped Oswald asylum and was looking for Mr. Midnight. However, after Fran questioned him about the missing feline her demeanor completely changed,

"Eaten?! What do you mean?"

Uh oh...that doesn't sound good.

"Fran, what's he saying?" I immediately felt my cheeks flush as I just outted myself not being able to see "Antonio the great ant."

"____! Weren't you listening?! He just said his beetle pig ate Mr. Midnight! he's gone! Dead! and-"

Fran paused and turned her head as though she was interrupted, and nodded her head.

"Yes! We can do it! We can kill the beetle pig!"

"whoa whoa whoa, who's killing what?" Fran turned around looking more frustrated,

"Come on! there's no way you can't hear him, ____ he's right in front of us! Can't you see!?....Haha, yeah Antonio! you do have better hearing than her! And you're really old!"

First of all, I can't believe his name is actually Antonio, that's a win on my part. Second, I'm not about to let this invisible old ant fart talk shit about me. That's not gonna happen, I just wish I could see this giant prick! So I started to think, maybe it had something to do with the medication? The duotine? Is hallucinating while off it a side effect? And if so, why isn't it happening to me?

"Fran, How much of that medicine did you take?"

She tilted her head confused at the change of subject.

"Um...I think...about this much?" she pulled out the bottle and gestured with her fingers to show about a 1/4 of the bottle. Not including the pills I took. I started to put the puzzle together in my head. Fran could see things from the pills while not on them, because of the amount she used! I needed to take more! I didn't want too, but its starting to look like if I wanna find my way home (and Frans cat) I was gonna need the sixth sense as well as her.

I held out my hand, "Give me the bottle." She complied and plopped the bottle in my hand. I popped the cap off and poured about 6 pills in my hand. I hope you can't overdose on this...I tossed the pills into my mouth and swallowed them dry. Now we wait,

"Alright, now what are we killing?"

Fran just stood there. Staring at me with wide eyes.

"Uh...The beetle pig...right there." She pointed to the empty space next to where "Antonio" was. Still there was nothing, "____, can't you see it?"

"I will in a few minutes i'm sure..."

"You mean you couldn't see them the whole time?"

"No...I couldn't."

"You fibbed?" She looked hurt, and that made my heartstrings ache,

"No! No, Fran, I didn't lie to you, I never said I could see them! I just said lets ask for directions! I didn't tell you I couldn't see them because I didn't want you to be scared that's all." She nodded her head, with a small smile,

"I understand...thank you. But we have to hurry! Mr. Midnight is being digested! We have to get him out!"

I looked around us, I didn't know what to use to kill a "beetle pig". How am I gonna kill something I can't see? How long is this shit gonna take to kick in, it was instantly last time. Tolerance for Duotine must rise insanely quick, I caught a glimpse of something reflective and quickly darted my head toward it, just over yonder was an axe lodged in a log.

"Perfect!"

I pranced over to the axe and gripped it with both hands, with a grunt and firm tug I managed to get the tool out from its groove. Nearly falling backward, but we're not gonna talk about that. I dragged the axe behind me back over to Fran, "Fran, do you think this'll work? Just how big is this beetle pig?"

Fran clapped her hand together, "Oh wonderful, ____! That's perfect! Here, let me! Since your blind as a bat right now!" she giggled.

I hesitantly handed her the axe,

"Be careful, Fran, it's not a toy." she spit her tongue out at me.

"You don't give me enough credit! I've been told i'm very mature for my age!" I rolled my eyes, famous last words. I didn't argue, I stood back and gesture Fran to proceed, she nodded her head and dragged the axe toward the alleged pig. With sounds of effort, she raised the axe and swung it downwards. I jumped when I heard a squeal and something scurrying past me. What the hell was that?!

Fran ran beside me and tried to strike again, only to be evaded with another keen and more frantic footprints back to the spot it originated from.

"Ugh! It won't stay still! The pig doesn't want to be killed, Mr. Antonio!" She stood still for a minute, assuming she was listening to Antonios reply, after a few minutes, she dropped the axe on the ground she sighed and looked back towards me. "Antonio says we need to fetch some blueberries from his house to distract him!"

I raised a brow at that, I had no idea what an ants house looked like, will obviously a normal sized ant would have a hill. But what about this Antonio character?

"Alright, Fran, you go and look for those berries, I'll stay back here and keep Antonio company and wait for this damn medicine to kick in."

Fran nodded and handed me the axe,

"Here! just in case any ghosty goulies try to give you what for!" I laughed and took it,

"I'm more worried about you, Fran, go straight there and back, you hear me?" She rolled her eyes and nodded.

"I'll be back in a jiffy!" There she went, disappearing into the darkness between the trees. I suppose all i could do for the moment was wait for the Duotine to run its course, it has to be any minute now, I think the squeals and running from earlier was that pig. it had to be soon. and boy I need to be careful what I wish for. Because within the blink of an eye and a thunderclap headache, everything suddenly had a red tint to it and there was Antonio and that damn ass beetle pig. I let out a suprised cry and fell backwards right on my ass. Which made Antonio chortle and give me an amused look,

"Hahaha! Hope I didn't scare you too much, dear. Though I would think you would have expected to see me. You saw your young friend conversing with us, no?"

I sat there for a moment, trying to process the shock, sure I knew he was there but suddenly seeing a six foot tall ant appear right in front of you would send anyone flying back. I climbed back up on my feet, and glared at him.

"I was here the whole time, yes. Wouldn't have to be if you didn't feed her cat to your pet you asshole ant."

"There's no need for such language, dear. My pet was hungry and I fed him. You would do the same for a pet of yours, would you not?"

I sighed, I shouldn't be so rude, he was letting us kill him to get Mr. Midnight back,

"I'm sorry. It's just been a long night. A long everything actually. Forgive me."

"Water under the bridge, so young one. What is your quest?"

"Quest?"

"Yes. Your sister is looking for your cat, what are you looking for."

"Oh, Fran's not my sister, we just escaped the asylum together."

Antonio shook his head,

"Ah...I see. Well, you seem to care for her as if, pardon my mistake. But you didn't answer my question, what are you looking for?"

"My way home."

Antonio nodded,

"Good luck to you both, Take care of each other in these woods, dangerous beings lurk...but for now. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to continue my nap."

"Thank you, go for it." Instantly, he was out like a light. Wish I could fall asleep that fast, I trudged my way over to the stump the axe was lodged in and plopped my sore butt down. It felt good to sit after being on my feet for a few hours, I sat in silence in the blood red woods. If I looked around I could see those black things that were in the asylum, looming around the trees. Some of them staring at me from the darkness, making my heart freeze into ice. Fran, hurry up.

"And then what..." I jumped, who said that? I looked around, Antonio was still asleep, and I was positive that damn pig couldn't talk, this obscure voice trope was seriously getting old. I looked to my left and noticed a well, it was boarded up and looked pretty out of commission. There was that smell again...it must've been coming from the well. It smelled like...death, much more pungent than before. There had to have been either a dead animal or something that fell inside...

"And then what..." There was that damn voice again, I stood up and looked behind me, nothing. Was something messing with me?

"After you find your way home, what will you do?" It spoke again, the voice was deep, husky, but oddly welcoming.

"What's it to you?" I snapped, sick of the harassment from otherworldly beings.

"Now who are YOU talking to, ____?" I whipped around to see Fran with a smirk on her lips. I stood there with my mouth slightly agape, I turned to look behind me but yet...still greeted with nothing. Everything in the forest was back to normal, no red mist, no black monsters. I shook my head and smiled reassuringly. But on the inside, I was about to punch a hole through that tree out of frustration.

"No one, Fran, just thinking outloud that's all. But hey, I'm glad you made it back in one piece! Did you get the berries?"

She whipped out a stem of blueberries from her purse with a confident look on her face.

"Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Now hurry we have to get Mr. Midnight back!"

We hustled back to Antonio and the pig, I could still see them, so my hypothesis from earlier was, in fact,  correct. I gave Antonio and small smack to the side of his face to wake up.

"Ah! you know...a simple "hello" would suffice."

"That what you get for insulting my hearing earlier, anyway, did you want to say goodbye to your pig? You know...before I hit his off switch?"

"Oh no...just make it quick. I will be fine."

I hummed and took the berries from Fran. Kneeling down on one knee, I held the berries out in front of me and clicked my tongue. Like you would do for a cat, the pig oinked and waddled over happily to his last meal. I stood up and walked behind him, raising the axe above my head.

"Nighty night, You lucky bastard." With a battle cry I brought down the axe with all my strength. With a crimson burst of blood the axe sank its way into the creature with a sickeningly wet crunch. Blood splattered on my face and clothes and Fran let out a small whimper at the disturbing scene, Antonio didn't even watch. We waited for a moment, waiting for Mr. midnight. What we got, was not a cat, but a RAT.

"Whew! Thank ya dear! I thought fo' sho' I was dead meat!"

"You're not a cat."

"Ugh...the pretty ones are always the dumb ones. Nah, I ain't no cat!"

I scrunch my face up at being insulted,

"You spoke to soon you rat bastard," I threatened him, by raising the axe again,

"____, wait! Maybe he knows where my kitty is!" I lowered the axe again,

"Fine, but anymore snide remarks, I toss him in the well." Fran laughed and knelt to the rats level. The rat explained how a cat that coincidentally looked exactly like Frans' apparently attacked him before itself got taken. We asked where and he lead us to where that well was, but...it was gone.

"It looked as though they disappeared into the Earth!"

Fran and I looked at each other and popped another pill, within another few minutes everything was back to it's morbidity and the well had returned. That explains where these supposed cat nappers went. I swung the axe at wooden boards and on impact, the axe head exploded. We all exclamed in suprise and shielded ourselves from the debris, well that was unexpected.

"Oh! I have an idea!" Fran sprinted back to the pile of bullshit near the pipe and rummaged for a while,

"S’cuse me, I apologize for my remark earlier, I have a favor to ask." I glanced down at the rat,

"Apologie accepted. The favor however, that depends what is it?"

"You see I have this comb I took from the Luciferns."

"The what?"

"The Luciferns! Over there."

I turned my head to where he was pointing to see that one of the tree was draped with a long stringy substance and ornamented with the terrifying goulish faces,

"Oooh, what fresh hell did I get myself into."  The rat laughed, luckily all the little guy wanted was for me to comb his hair with the comb. I accepted and as a thank you he gave me the comb to use for myself, I thanked him and he took off. Fran came running back with a tiny little door made from a plank of wood. I smiled amused at this. This was worth a shot regarding all of the other crazy shit that's been going on.

"I wasn't able to find anything big enough for you to fit into, ____, I'm sorry, but I might have to go by myself again..." I sighed, I didn't like this anymore, something about that well was making my intuition go fuckin' nuts. I didn't say anything, because we weren't even completely sure this would work. fran set the door up against the well and turned the handle. It was...locked. That's means, that it worked. But where was this magical key,

"My own door is locked, how curious! Hm...Look! There's a key hanging with those spooky faces!"

Of course...

"Wait! Take this with you, the rat took this from them and they might be looking for it." I handed her the comb the rat gifted me from earlier,

"That rat was a theif! Oh my, what a...hehe rat." she chuckled at her own joke as she skipped over to the Luciferns. I saw them have a small exchange before they supposedly came to a deal, Fran began to comb the Luciferns long, white hair. What I wasn't expecting was for them to turn into these beautiful iridescent dragon fly looking bugs. The lifted off from the tree, there had to be hundreds of them. They happily flew around Fran and I into the sky in a beautiful white light show, gracing the silence in the red woods with a low buzzing. It looked truely magical, which was a nice break from the blood and gore fest.

Fran with the key in hand ran back to the door and I, immediately knelt down and shoved the key in the lock. The tumblers in the lock gave and lo and behold the little door opened. My bad feeling was back and I put my hand on Frans shoulder.

"I can't go in with you. So you'll be all alone down there, alright?"

"I'll be fine, ____ You'll be right outside right?"

"Of course!" I smiled, and she returned it, she crawled inside, once her little brown boots disappeared inside. The door slammed shut,

"HEY!" I grabbed the handle and tried to yank it back open, "Fran?! Fran?! Are you still there?!" I pounded on the top of the wood on the well and on the door. When the door itself, Simply vanished.

"NO, STOP!" I punched the top of the well, so hard I felt the white hot pain of my knuckles split open, nothing but wet heat now as my hand bled.

"Please..." I fell to the ground. She couldn't be gone. She was gonna come back right? She had to come back. I looked to where the door was, the bottle of duotine was sitting spilled out.

"I'm coming for you, Fran." I scooped up the pills and lidded the pill bottle.

"Well, you won't have any luck finding Fran with just those, dear." I looked up,

A skeleton in a suit...what's next?